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over showing his displeasure at wearing an empty saddle by trying to kill everyone in reach. Although Ian did not relax his grip, he was able to turn toward Salisbury. |
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"I have come prepared," he said neutrally. "My squires hold two other destriers. My horses will not fail. For myself," he shrugged, "I will do my best." |
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"I am sorry," Salisbury remarked obliquely. "If I could have turned some of them away, I would have done so, but for the jousting that is not allowed." |
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Ian understood well enough, but he had known John would encourage and possibly even pay any man willing to enter the jousts. It mattered very little to him. John might take pleasure in seeing him tumbled from his horse. It was a cheap and meaningless pleasure. Ian did not have the kind of pride that rested on invincibility. He had been tumbled by Simon too often for his self-respect to be damaged by a fall in jousting. His attention wandered toward the loges. Alinor, he saw, was in earnest conversation with Lady Ela. Salisbury followed his eyes and smiled. |
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"Ela told me your lady has not been to a tourney before. Do not worry about her. Ela will take care of her." |
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"But Alinor is" Ian began and then closed his mouth on the information that she was inured to a lot bloodier sights than a tournament. If Alinor wished to be thought of as sheltered and weak, she had a reason for it. |
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"She is not so incapable as you think," Salisbury encouraged. "Keep your mind on your own business." |
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At that moment the trumpets sounded, fortunately drowning Ian's brief hoot of laughter. Salisbury hurried away to his duties, and Ian shifted his grip on the rein preparatory to remounting. After another brief tussle, he made it into the saddle. The heralds were calling his name at one end of the field and Arundel's |
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